One Direction singer Liam Payne was reported to have been acting ‘erratically’ by staff at the CasaSur Hotel in a 911 call made by staff before the tragic star fell to his death
Police investigations suggest that Liam Payne may have been under the influence of drugs that cause psychotic episodes and hallucinations at the time of his death.
The singer died on Wednesday night after falling for the third time from the balcony of the Casa Sur Hotel. The 31-year-old One Direction star was said to have been behaving “erratically” in the hours before the tragedy.
Police in Buenos Aires have now announced that they are investigating the theory that Liam was under the influence of a powerful substance called crystal. The drug can cause users to feel extremely euphoric or depressed, and can make them aggressive.
Police told TMZ that Liam’s behavior was consistent with that of a crystal user, but did not confirm that drugs were present in the room. Test results of the seized drugs and medications still need to be fully documented.
Photos from Liam’s hotel room showed traces of white powder, aluminum foil and a cracked TV screen. Authorities have not commented or provided any official information to support or refute the unconfirmed claims.
An initial autopsy, performed Wednesday night, found that Liam died from multiple traumatic injuries, including a skull fracture that caused “internal and external bleeding.”
A recording of a 911 call from hotel staff shows the hotel manager telling emergency services that “we have a guest who is totally drugged and destroying everything in the room.” We need somebody to come.’
The manager called again and expressed concern about the balcony in Liam’s room, saying guests’ lives were “at risk”. The manager said: “We need to send somebody out urgently because we don’t know if guests’ lives are at risk. He must be in a room with a balcony. And we’re a little worried that he’ll do something that puts his life at risk.”
Local media said the drug Clonazepam, used to treat epileptic and panic attacks, had been taken from Liam’s hotel room.
The father of former One Direction star Liam Payne, who visited Buenos Aires following Liam Payne’s death, said his ex-partner Cheryl was “painful beyond words”.
Jeff Payne was photographed wearing a navy blue suit as he left the Casa Sur hotel in the Argentine capital on Wednesday, where the 31-year-old British star fell from a third-floor balcony on Wednesday.
According to the Associated Press, Mr Payne is believed to have flown into the country to arrange for his son’s repatriation.
In a video shared by the BBC, Mr Payne was seen visiting a memorial erected by fans outside the hotel, reading letters and pausing around flowers, photos and candles.
Previously, the singer’s family said they were “heartbroken” by his death, adding: “Liam will live on in our hearts forever, and we will never forget his kind, funny and brave soul.”
Girls Aloud singer Cheryl expressed concern about protecting her seven-year-old son, whom she had with Payne, after her highly publicized relationship with him from 2016 to 2018.
“As we process this earth-shattering event and try to process our own grief during this indescribably difficult time, I would like to tenderly remind everyone that we have lost a human being,” she wrote in an Instagram post.
Sharing a black-and-white photo of Payne lying in bed with his baby son Bear, she wrote, “Liam is not just a pop star and a celebrity, he is a son, a brother, an uncle, a dear friend and a father to my seven-year-old son, who must now face the reality that he will never see his father again.”
The 41-year-old ended her statement by calling on people to give Payne “what little dignity is left in his death.” Finally, rest in peace. “
Her statement came after Ms Payne’s friend Kate Cassidy said she was “completely devastated” after her death.
“Nothing has felt real these past few days,” she said in a post on her Instagram Story.
“Liam my angel you mean everything. I want you to know that I loved you unconditionally and completely. I will love you forever. I love you Liam.”
Meanwhile, music mogul Simon Cowell said he was “absolutely devastated” after Liam’s death, adding that he also felt “heartbroken” and “empty”.
Payne rose to fame alongside Niall Horan, Louis Tomlinson, Zayn Malik and Harry Styles when X Factor creator Cowell brought them together to form One Direction on the ITV talent show in 2010.
“Every tear I shed is for you,” he wrote in a statement on Instagram.
The 65-year-old music industry mogul said his son Bear “would be so proud of all you’ve achieved and how you’ve achieved it.”
Payne first auditioned for The X Factor in 2008 at the age of 14, singing Frank Sinatra’s “Fly Me to the Moon.” Judge Cowell advised him to join the talent show two years later.
In 2010, he was sent to the bootcamp stage of the competition along with four other solo candidates (the group that would later become One Direction) after impressing the judges with his rendition of Michael Bublé’s “Cry Me a River”.
“When you were 14, I had to tell you it wasn’t the right time and we promised to meet up again. A lot of people would have given up. You didn’t,” Cowell said.
He also said that Payne visited him last year, where he “reminisced about the good times we had together.”
“After you left, I remembered you were still the sweet, lovely boy I knew all those years ago,” he added.
It came after Horan was the last bandmate to share a touching tribute, saying he will “cherish every moment” he had with Payne “forever”.
Payne was spotted dancing with his girlfriend Cassidy in Argentina about two weeks ago at Horan’s show at Movistar Arena.
“I was so happy to see him recently. Sadly, I didn’t know that after saying goodbye and holding him that night that it would be saying goodbye forever. Heartbroken,” Horan wrote.
Payne’s other band members also shared emotional condolences on social media, with a joint statement from the band saying they were “completely devastated” and that Payne will be missed “so much.” “The memories we shared with him will be cherished forever.”
According to an autopsy report, the singer died from multiple injuries and “internal and external bleeding.”
Argentina’s National Criminal and Penitentiary Prosecutor’s Office No. 16 announced that it was investigating the incident following the reports, describing it as an “inconclusive death.”